Inpatient Rehab Treatment for Veterans: Locations Near Me

Last Updated: November 4, 2024

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If you’re a veteran grappling with addiction, there are numerous treatment options available to aid in your recovery journey. One highly valuable resource for veterans seeking addiction treatment is inpatient rehab programs. These programs offer a structured daily schedule that removes veterans from the stressors and triggers of everyday life, providing a conducive environment for recovery.

What To Seek in a Veteran Rehab Program

In your quest for a suitable treatment program, it’s crucial to consider several essential factors:

  • Accreditation: Opt for inpatient rehab programs that have achieved or exceeded rigorous quality standards. Choosing an accredited program ensures you receive quality services.
  • Qualified Staff: Always select a facility staffed with qualified professionals, including psychologists, clinical social workers and physicians specializing in addiction treatment. While support staff may not always have credentials, the core treatment team overseeing your care should possess the necessary education and licensure in addiction treatment.
  • Dual Diagnosis Services: For veterans dealing with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders, it’s vital to choose inpatient rehab programs that offer dual diagnosis services. These programs can address both addiction and mental health concerns simultaneously, a critical aspect of veteran care. Research has found that 55%–68% of veterans with symptoms of PTSD also have an alcohol addiction, so dual diagnosis treatment is essential.
  • Specialized Therapies: Given the prevalence of PTSD among veterans and its connection to addiction, look for inpatient rehab programs that offer specialized therapies to address PTSD. Programs offering cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure therapy and EMDR have shown effectiveness in treating PTSD.

Types of Veteran Inpatient Rehab Programs

Various types of veteran inpatient rehab programs are available. Some programs exclusively serve veterans, allowing you to undergo treatment with peers facing similar challenges. Others may offer trauma-informed services to both veterans and non-veteran patients, fostering an inclusive environment.

Additionally, consider the program’s duration. Short-term inpatient programs typically last 14-28 days, while longer-term options may extend up to three months. Veterans with severe addiction or those lacking supportive, safe housing in the community may benefit from longer-term inpatient care.

Finding Veteran-Centric Inpatient Rehab

Veterans seeking inpatient rehab programs can benefit from facilities offering veteran-centric care. These programs may cater exclusively to veterans or serve a mixed population while providing tailored programming designed to meet the unique needs of veterans.

You can discover veteran-centric inpatient care options through the VA, which offers a wide range of resources for veterans dealing with substance abuse. The VA provides inpatient care, medical detox, medication-assisted treatment and outpatient services. You can also find these services at private inpatient rehabs that are part of the VA Community Care Network, like The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper.

The Comprehensive Veteran Addiction Treatment Plan

Participation in inpatient addiction rehab as a veteran involves the development of a comprehensive treatment plan. This process begins with an assessment where the treatment center’s staff gather information about your medical history, addiction-related symptoms and other relevant details, such as your history in the service, family background and living situation.

Following the assessment, the treatment team creates a comprehensive treatment plan addressing the specific concerns that led you to seek rehab. This plan outlines your goals and the services needed to achieve them, which may include individual therapy, group therapy, support groups and medication management.

Once your inpatient care concludes, it’s essential to collaborate with your treatment team to develop an aftercare plan. This plan outlines the services you’ll continue participating in after returning home, such as outpatient counseling and relapse prevention support groups.

Tailoring Treatment to Veterans’ Needs

Veterans often face unique challenges due to their service experiences, including stress related to deployment, combat exposure and reintegration into civilian life. Addiction treatment plans for veterans should account for these challenges and how they contribute to addiction.

A Team Approach to Veteran Rehab

Quality veteran rehab programs adopt a team approach to treatment, involving multiple professionals working together to meet your needs. This team may consist of a doctor who prescribes medication, a therapist who provides individual counseling to address coping mechanisms and a case manager who coordinates your services. This collaborative approach mirrors the different specialties within the military, all striving towards the common goal of aiding your recovery from addiction.

Effective Therapies for Veterans

Veteran addiction programs typically offer a blend of individual and group therapy. Specific trauma-informed approaches have proven effective for veterans, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy. 

Peer Support in Veteran Rehab

Peer support groups play a pivotal role in veteran addiction treatment, fostering camaraderie and offering valuable insights to veterans facing similar challenges.

Utilizing VA Health Insurance: The Community Care Network

Sometimes, veterans may prefer or require treatment at an inpatient rehab program not associated with a VA medical facility. In such cases, you can access services through the Community Care Network (CCN) if you have VA health insurance. The VA will cover your treatment costs, provided you receive pre-authorization for services.

Navigating the VA Community Care Process

When choosing VA CCN benefits for inpatient rehab, it’s crucial to follow the proper steps to ensure VA coverage for your treatment:

  • Discuss with your VA doctor to initiate the “consult creation and review” process, where your doctor refers you to the inpatient treatment center. This consult request is sent to the Community Care department for review.
  • Once the Community Care department approves your consult, they will contact you and reach out to the inpatient treatment provider to ensure they are in-network. They will also schedule your initial appointment.
  • The VA will authorize your appointment and provide you with a letter detailing the approved length of care and the types of treatment you can receive.
  • You can begin your treatment and continue care for the authorized duration. If you need care beyond the initial approval, you’ll require re-authorization.

If you have questions about accessing services through the VA Community Care Network, our Veteran Advocates at The Recovery Village can guide you through the process.

Finding Nearby Veteran Inpatient Rehab: 10 Questions To Ask

In your search for quality veteran addiction treatment, it’s helpful to pose these ten questions before selecting an inpatient facility:

  • Do you accept VA insurance?
  • What is the duration of your program?
  • What therapy services do you provide?
  • Do you offer veteran-specific treatment?
  • Does your facility exclusively treat veterans, or do you admit non-veterans as well?
  • What trauma-informed services are available?
  • Do you have an on-site medical detox program?
  • Is your facility accredited?
  • What professionals will be part of my treatment team?
  • If non-veterans are in your program, will they participate in my support groups?

Obtaining answers to these questions will aid you in determining whether a particular treatment program aligns with your needs and preferences. Programs that accept your insurance, provide veteran-specific treatment and offer trauma-informed services are typically well-suited to veterans. Insights into the composition of your treatment team and the program’s duration will further assist you in making an informed choice.

FORTITUDE: A Specialty Rehab Track for Veterans and First Responders

Veteran-centric inpatient rehab programs offer specialized treatment tailored to the unique needs of veterans. At The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper, we proudly offer the FORTITUDE program, specifically designed to provide addiction treatment services to veterans and first responders.

Our licensed staff is well-versed in trauma-informed therapies, including EMDR. We also facilitate exclusive peer support groups for veterans and first responders. Additionally, we provide co-occurring disorders treatment to address mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and PTSD, which can often accompany addiction.

Veteran Recovery Is Our Mission

Our Veteran Advocates can help you navigate your VA health insurance and get you the help you need. At The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper, our FORTITUDE specialty track for veterans and first responders offers:


  • Exclusive group therapy sessions with your peers
  • Experienced clinicians trained in military culture and veteran-specific care
  • Treatment for co-occurring disorders to treat addiction and mental health disorders together  
  • EMDR: A revolutionary treatment that alleviates trauma symptoms

Sources

Dworkin, Emily; Bergman, Hannah; Walton, Thomas; Walker, Denise; Kayden, Debra. “Co-Occurring Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder in U.S. Military and Veteran Populations.” Alcohol Research, 2018. Accessed October 2, 2023. 

Reisman, Miriam. “PTSD Treatment for Veterans: What’s Working, What’s New, and What’s Next.” Pharmacy & Therapeutics, October 2016. Accessed October 2, 2023. 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Substance use treatment for Veterans.” October 12, 2022. Accessed October 2, 2023. 

Teeters, Jenni; Lancaster, Cynthia; Brown, Delisa; Back, Sudie. “Substance use disorders in military veterans: prevalence and treatment challenges.” Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 2017. Accessed October 2, 2023. 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Community Care Network.” April 5, 2023. Accessed October 2, 2023. 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Quick Facts: Community Care for Routine Needs.” October 13, 2022. Accessed October 2, 2023.

Medical Disclaimer: The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.